Veryna steps back from the cacodaemon trying to eat her face and locks eyes with it. The aberrant magic in her blood sends out invisible tendrils from her body and caresses the daemon, causing its flesh to ripple and distort.
The cacodaemon's mouth goes slack and it can't seem to tear its eyes away from Veryna.
Willam sees the creatures appear and strikes out.
William sees #3 appear and reacts more quickly than the eye can see, putting the tip of his rapier directly into the thing's huge mouth. It gags as blood and ichor shoots from the wound, and it falls to the ground.
Astrid takes advantage of the opportunity and moves in for the kill .
This time, her kill shot lands true and the daemon breathes its last.
Zazu (32/42 hp, blessed)
William (50/50 hp, blessed, Holy Strike)
Thing #3 (dead)
Thing #2 (dead)
Thing #1 (?? damage, dazed)
Veryna (33/36 hp, blessed, diseased)
Astrid (30/51 hp, blessed, bull strength)
Bold may act.
Willam turns his attention to the last creature and unleashes his full fury, stabbing for his estimate of the heart.
William continues his reign as battle MVP as he takes down his second straight cacodaemon. It doesn't look like it will be down for long, though...
Zazu attempts to finish off the cacodaemon that William downed.
Zazu repeats his coup de grace maneuver, bifurcating the final remaining daemon.
Veryna takes the wand to Zazu and Astrid.
Willam kicks the body in front of him in disgust, his lip curling before he looks around at his friends. He keeps his rapier in hand and his eyes peeled as Veryna heals Astrid.
“You okay, Veryna? Looked like something may have come over you for a moment, there. And you, Zazu? Those little devils caused a bit more trouble than I expected. You think they were left in there as a trap for anyone snooping around the house?”
Willam looks concerned for his companions but he can’t help side-stepping and trying to peek through the hidden door. He puts his back to the wall next to the door and tilts his head so that he could see into the room if he cracked the door.
“I don’t want to rush us, but I’d be happy to get out of here, and the sooner the better. Should we have a quick look next door so that we can finish our sweep and shove off?”
Veryna's soot-gray face becomes a little more ashen.
She shrugs and moves to the "secret" door.
Veryna pushes open the secret door to reveal a large master bedroom, which has been turned over roughly. Signs of a struggle include a broken window in the south side of the eastern wall, a displaced mattress, a broken chair, and a spatter of dried blood on the floor. There is a desk against the east wall with a locked drawer.
Veryna frowns and inspects the blood stain.
She then thoroughly inspects the locked drawer.
The drawer is not trapped.
Hands a little shaky, Veryna draws out her thieves' tools and sets to work.
The blood is definitely a few days old. It's not really possible to tell much else about it without a forensics team (or powerful magic).
Veryna flinches a bit when a clicking sound comes from the drawer, but it was just the lock disengaging. Inside, you find lootz:
- 3 doses of itching powder
- 2 liquid blades
- 2 potions
Veryna hands the potions over to Will and Zazu.
She moves to the other doors and checks them.
Assuming she finds nothing at either doors, she will give the all-clear and wait for either William or Astrid to lead the way.
Both doors are free of traps and locks, as far as you can tell.
Astrid nods to Veryna and then opens the door to the north as quietly as she can.
Taergan Flinn has not had an overnight guest in some time, if this tidy, dusty room is any indication.
Veryna frowns as she enters the room.
She scowls and moves into the guest room. She gives the room a once-over before moving to the door and checking it. Assuming both are clear, she will wait for someone to open the west door of the guest room.
There is nothing else of note in the guest room.
On the other side of the western door, you find a bookshelf-lined hallway. Books on advanced mathematics, magical theory, history, anthropology, and alchemy fill the shelves, along with several volumes of the Pathfinder Chronicles. There is a staircase leading down on the southern end of the hall.
Veryna walks around the room, scanning the shelves carefully for anything interesting or out-of-place.
Veryna doesn't see anything else of note.
Veryna shrugs.
Astrid starts heading to the servants quarters and gestures for everyone else to follow her.
Veryna checks over the door to the servant's quarters for any more unpleasant surprises.
If she finds it untrapped and unlocked, she swings the door open and steps in.
Inside this small house two simple wooden doors close off small rooms. A small table and two rocking chairs fill the main room.
Veryna steps into the room and checks the doors.
Each bedroom contains nothing but a bed, a few changes of clothes, and the following:
- A jar that radiates magic
- A stamped silver bar worth 10gp
Veryna hands the vial and silver bar to Zazu.
Veryna frowns at the items.
"Mighty strange, indeed. I knew a fellow once that used some of this spellcraft when he wanted to make like he was still around after he skipped town. Might have been working double duty here?"
I sure don't know what's going on here, but I guess it's on us to find out. All in good time, Three-toes. You didn't get here by being impatient.
"I reckon we've found just about all we're going to find around here, and I can't say I'll be sad to leave. Should we get some shut eye before we talk to the prisoner?"
Veryna closes her eyes and groans, nodding vigorously.
She spends a few moments to cast prestidigitation and mending on her dress, then returns the spiked chain to its place around her waist with a small, pleasant gasp before turning to the others and making an inquisitive gesture toward the inn. She is ready to leave this dreadful building behind.
You head back to the inn, some of you worse for wear. On entering, the innkeeper sees you and waves you over. He tells you that Branda and Igneous had returned while you were away and left in quite a hurry. They had purchased horses and left fully equipped, but the rooms are paid up for the next 3 days. He also says that you were to be allowed admittance into their rooms.
You head upstairs, not quite sure what to expect. In the couple's rooms, you find a hastily scrawled note:
We received word that Taergan is being held against his will in the Verduran Forest north of here. We have set out to find him at a place called Tristeza House. Please bring whatever you need and join us as soon as you can. Bring word of Dern's safety with you.
--Branda Tulles
P.S. You are level 6.
On the bed next to the note are a few items:
- 10 +1 evil outsider bane arrows
- Scroll of dimensional anchor (CL 7th)
- 3 potions of cure serious wounds
Veryna chews her lip.
Willam looks at the note with exasperation.
"They couldn't have just waited for us?! The damn fools are going to get themselves killed. They may have been formidable at one point, but age comes to us all, as they say. Gods, we're in a way!"
He calms down a bit after taking along drink of the ale he had been hoping to savor.
"You're right, Veryna. No point trying to find them in our current state. Do more harm than good."
His usual sparkle returns to his eye, bloodshot as it is. "Guess I'll need a few more of these and an early bedtime." He drains the ale and heads to the door.
As she lies on her bed in her room, Veryna cannot sleep. She tosses and turns restlessly, before finally sitting up. She throws the covers off of her and begins looking over her body, checking for bruising, looking in her portable mirror and checking for discoloration in the back of her throat, and scouring over the site of the cacodaemon's bite; her magics have mostly healed the wound, but indentations still remain that could tell her something about what she may have contracted from it.
Veryna has contracted Cacodaemonia. It's as fun as it sounds! It deals wisdom damage and requires two consecutive saves to cure. In addition to the normal effects of the disease, as long as a victim is infected, the cacodaemon can telepathically communicate with the creature over any distance (as long as they remain on the same plane). But, you guys killed it, so.
Cacodaemonia. Lovely. I will die an idiot. Par for the course, I suppose.
She feels oddly comforted knowing what the disease is. The fear of not knowing is what kept her awake. She is able to fall straight to sleep after that.
Astrid is too wired to sleep much throughout the night. So much happening. So much mystery. Her mind is racing and any sleep comes with a fight.
In the morning, she is finally able to relax enough to meditate for a full hour. When she is done she stands up and walks over to Veryna.
Is there anything I can do to help with this fun new disease you have contracted, friend?
Zazu focuses on the items that Veryna handed him to see if he can determine what type of magic they are emanating.
Veryna shrugs and signs back, You can aid me while I tend to myself. Her signs are awkward and slow; she is only now beginning to get the hang of the language they'd been developing, but she is pleased to see she's not the only one making progress.
After tending to herself, Veryna ushers Astrid out of the room and begins her morning ablutions. Strange noises can be heard from the room for the next fifteen minutes; eventually the kayal steps out and heads downstairs for breakfast.
While eating, she goes over the unidentified potions and chalice with her magical senses.
Zazu wakes and prays to Desna, feeling his connection with her deepen. After he finishes he heads to get something to eat and notices Veryna concentrating on the chalice and potions again. As she finishes she seems frustrated so he walks over to her and says: "Mind if I give it a try little raven?"
As Veryna hands the items over to Zazu, he performs a quick prayer to Desna to bestow some of her luck onto him.
Willam wakes up feeling limber and a bit lucky. He rouses when he hears his companions settle into their prayers, but feigns sleep, pretending to snore loudly. Eventually he gets tired of the joke he's made a thousand times and crawls out of bed.
"Feeling better, Mishka? I believe some of your friends are in a bit of a predicament. I propose we seek them out immediately....after breakfast."
Willam chuckles to himself and heads into the main hall to find a bite to eat, especially happy knowing that he's not paying the bill. I may be a man of means, but there's no pleasure like a free meal!
He's ready to go well before his friends and stands impatiently in the doorway as they prepare, swishing his tail and picking his teeth compulsively.
Veryna quickly wolfs down a small plate of bacon and eggs before joining William at the door waiting for the others. I hope we're not too late to save Verus and Branda...
She signs to the others, Quickly. No time to waste. Dern's warning against the forest was most dire.